Draft appliance



E. P. KINNE DRAFT APPLIANCE July 31, 1934.

Filed Jan. 29, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 31, 1934- E. P. KINNE 1,968,559

DRAFT APPLIANCE v July 31, 1934. KINNE I 1,968,559

DRAFT APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 29, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 31, 1934. E K|NNE 1,968,559

DRAFT APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 29, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 E. P. KINNE DRAFT APPLIANCE July 31, 193.4.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 29, 1930 Patented July 31, 1934 UNITED STATES 7 DRAFT APPLIANCE Edmund Kinne, Alliance, Ohio, assignor to American Steel-Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation v of New Jersey Application: January 29, 193.0, Serial No. 424,190

17 Claims. (Cl. 21338) Thisinvention pertains to draft appliances, an embodiment of which .is illustrated infriction draft gear employed particularly in railway'service. i

As is wellknown, it is usual to provide coil springs acting longitudinally of draft 'gear for receiving the impact and affording a cushioning action in buffing anddraft inrailway. operation. This of coursemust take up quite a bit of room, making it necessary to extend the draft sills quite a considerable distance, and in order to shorten the effective part of the draft sills it has been proposed to provide horizontally disposed coil springs of a supplementary character to act with "the longitudinal draft gear.

lt hasalso been proposed to provide horizontally disposed coil springs for the purpose of wholly absorbing shocks incident to draft and buff.

It is an object of this invention to provide draft mechanism of the spring type disposed and acting transversely or laterally of friction gear, upon which mechanism is imposed the greatest or a very substantial portion of the shocks incident to operation of railway vehicles.

Another object is to provide draft gear having component elements including friction blocks that areadapt'ed to be resisting'ly moved to absorb shocks incident to operation.

Still another object is to provide draft mechanism disposed inwardly and outwardly of draft sills wherebythe draft gear need not be unduly enlarged and where the length of the draft gear may be materially reduced so that thestops carried by the draft sills may be'very closely approached to thereby lessen the tendency to fracture of any of theelements. entering into the gear construction.

A further object is to provide a draft gear having wearing friction surfaces on various elements thereof, the surfaces being of an increased frictional contact whereby the resistance to moveinentis increased without increase in size.

Still further object is to provide a draft gear, parts of which are readily replaceable and of such character and disposition that there will be a progressive increase in resistance in the operation of said gear.

Yet further object is'to provide a draft gear fulfilling all requirements of manufacture and service and one which, though having parts dis-' posed outwardlyof the sills, yet is of such character' that the sills neednot be totally interrupted.

With theseand various other objects in view, theinvention may consist-of certainnovel fea- "tures of construction and operation, as will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appendedfhereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate anfembodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a'fragmentary sectional top plan view through the draft sills of a railwaycar, showing the draft gear associated therewith, the same being in operative position;

'Figure 2 isa longitudinal sectional elevation of the draft gear illustrated in Figure l; the same being taken substantially in the plane as indicated by theline 2--2 in Figure 1 with the yoke omitted;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional side elevation, thesame being taken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line 3--3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 isa transverse sectional elevation of the draft gear illustrated in Figure 1, the same being taken substantially in the plane as indicatedby the linedof Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a pers'pective elevation of one of the wedge blocks used in draft gear;

Figure 6 is a perspective elevation of one of the friction blocks used in the draft gear to coopcrate with the wedge blocks illustrated in' Figure5;

Figure '7 is afragmentarysectionaltop plan View showing a modified arrangement of the draft gear andyoke; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the 'modified arrangement taken substantially along line 8-8 of Figure 7. Figures 9, 10 and 11 are sectional elevations, corresponding to Figures 2, 3 and 4, of Figure 1 showing a; modified form of wedge and friction blocks;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional top plan view through the draft sills of a railway car 18=norma1ly contactingthe rear: stops 14, and the showing a further modified form of draft gear associated therewith; and

yoke is shown as provided with a front wall or strap 20 contacting the front follower 22 normally contacting the front stops 12, though it is to be understood that any yoke may be used wherein the butt or swivel butt of the coupler may contact with the front follower, the coupler being carried by and preferably pivoted to the end 24 of said yoke. Wedge blocks 26 are provided adjacent the front and rear followers 22 and 18, these wedge blocks being of the same construction, having flat rear portions 28 which maybe in the form of pads or straps, thereby providing a hollow portion 30, said pad contacting with the respective followers. The wedge blocks are provided with upper and lower wall portions 32, each wall portion providing frictional surfaces 34. Side wall portions 36 are formed on the wedge block, said wall portions being substantially diagonal in shape and in planes angularly disposed with respect to the sills in a plurality of directions, the vertex of the diagonal determining the outwardly extending diagonal 38 from which diagonal upper and lower frictional surfaces 40 and 42 extend diagonally toward the frictional surfaces 34, joining said surfaces along diagonals 44 and 46, it being seen that a vertical section through the frictional surfaces 40 and 42 is substantially angular in shape, forming diagonals similar to the diagonals 36. The diagonals 48 formed on the frictional surfaces 34 are parallel to the diagonal 38, the frictional surfaces 34 being partly on tongues 50 extending outwardly and provided with flat surfaces 52 which may contact with corre sponding surfaces on opposed wedge blocks under extreme conditions of operation.

The friction blocks interposed between the wedge blocks are preferably four in number, having angled diagonally disposed friction surfaces 54 on each side complementary to the friction surfaces 40 and 42 and being disposed between the surfaces of the same character on opposed wedge blocks. The friction blocks may also be hollow, having pockets 56 therein and are formed with grooves 58 adapted to register with corresponding grooves in the other Wedge blocks to form a channel for the reception of the transverse spring rod 60. It will be seen too that these blocks are formed with flat upper surfaces 62 adapted to have contacting engagement with the surfaces 34 for frictional purposes, and the outside portions of said blocks are formed with a ledge 64 adapted to form, with the lugs 66 and surfaces 68 on the pairs of friction blocks, a seat for a portion of the spring seat member '70.

In the assembly of the device, it will be seen that the wedge blocks contact the respective followers, and upper and lower friction blocks are disposed between the diagonal surfaces 40 and 42 of the wedge blocks, pairs of friction blocks on either side of the longitudinal center line of the car providing seats for the spring seat member. The spring seat member '70 is provided with an elongated rounded portion 72 cooperating with the seat formed, and said members extend outwardly and through an interrupted portion '74 in the side sills l0 and are provided with a substantially circular flange or spring seat '76. The rod passes through an aperture 78 formed in the spring seat member and the apertures formed by the grooves 58, the ends of the rod being provided with thimbles 80 having flange portions 82, between which flange portions and the spring seat suitable coil springs or nests of coil springs 11 84 are provided, the thimbles being held by means such as the nuts 85. It will thus be seen that any desired compression may be placed upon the springs 84 (or nest of springs, not shown), by adjustment of the nuts 85. The resultant force will be exerted by the spring upon the spring seat member 76, and through it against the friction blocks, thereby tending to spread the wedge blocks and causing the followers to contact the stops.

In operation, draft movement imparted through the yoke serves to move the rear follower 18 forwardly, that is, toward the left as Viewed in Figure 1, thereby moving the rear wedge block toward the front wedge block. This movement causes spreading of the pairs of friction blocks on either side of the center line of the car, movement being resisted by the springs 84. The movement is also resisted through contact of the friction'faces 40 and 42 and the cooperating faces 54 of the wedge and friction blocks, and also between the upper and lower faces 34 and 62 of the wedge and friction blocks, and as the first named faces are on a diagonal, it will be seen that an increased friction surface is provided and the springs cause a progressive increase in the resistance as the draft gear is moved.

The operation in buff is of course the same. In that case, the front follower moves the front wedge block rearwardly causing operation in a manner similar to that as has already been described. It will thus be seen that it is possible to obtain a very high pressure between the friction and wedge blocks and consequently high resist ance to the movement of the draft gear.

In the modified arrangement illustrated in Figures '7 and 8 the same system of wedge blocks and friction blocks is employed and the construction is similar except for the omission of the front and rear follower members. The wedge blocks 126 shown in Figure 7 abut stops 112 and 114 on the sills 110 and are provided with upper 1 and lower portions 32 and frictional surfaces 34 in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 5. The rear portion of the wedge blocks is so constructed that a flat bearing surface 128 is provided for the accommodation of the butt of the coupler 120 which bears directly against one Wedge block and the rear portion of the yoke 116 which finds bearing surface against the other wedge block.

In the assembly of the device it is seen that the wedge blocks bear directly against the ends of the yoke member, and upper and lower friction blocks are disposed between the diagonal surfaces 40 and 42 of the wedge blocks and bear on spring seats 176 which pass through slots 1'74 1 in the sills. Draft movement imparted to the yoke imparts like movement directly to the rear wedge block and serves to move the block to the left as viewed in Figure 7. This movement causes corresponding spreading of the pairs of friction blocks in a manner similar to the operation of the parts as shown in Figure 1. On buff movement being imparted to the yoke 116 and coupler 120, the impact is taken directly by the front wedge block, and a rearward movement is given to this block in the manner already described.

In the modified form of wedge and friction blocks disclosed in Figures 9, to 11, the structure of the draft sills for accommodating the gear and the association of the yoke with the gear of the friction blocks during movement along at an angleto the diagonal 38 instead of parallel.

thereto, as is the case in the construction of Fig ure 1. This arrangement increasesthe friction betweenthe wedge and friction blocks by increasing the frictional resistance between the engaging surfaces, since the surfaces 234 and 2.62 respectively. cause movement of pairs of blocks towards and away from each other, that la the friction blocks considered in horizontal pairs move away from each other, while the blocks in vertical pairs .rnove towards each other, thus there is produced'a compound movement of the blocks in two directions from the center of the gear upon buff or draft movement imparted thereto.

The draft gear disclosed in Figures 12 and 13 contemplates a construction similar in all re spects to the type of gear shown and described in Figure 1, except for the s ecific angular friction surfaces provided on the wedge blocks and cooperating friction blocks. Each half of the wedge. blocks on either side of the diagonal 38 is formed into substantially a V-shaped groove 346 thus providing the frictional surfaces and 340, respectively, each sloping inwardly from the top andbottorn of the blocks towards the.

center edges of the gear. Each friction block for association with the surfaces on the Wedge block is provided with a protruding vertex defin ing the necessary angular faces for co-action with the surfaces 334: and 340 on the wedge blocks.

The action of the modified form of gear upon 7 movement being imparted thereto is similar to the types already described, in that as viewed in Figure l2, buff causes spreading of the friction blocks away from the center of the gear. By reason of the frictional surfaces, however, being angled in relation to each other as described, the friction blocks are moved vertically outwardly, i. e., the upper and lower pairs of blocks are moved away from each other opposite to the case of the modification shown in'Figures 9 to 11, which movement, in addition to the horizontal spreading, tends to materially increase the operating frictional surfaces of the gear.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and notlimitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

Iclaim:

l 1. A friction member comprising a body portion having. a plurality of pairs of angularly disposed friction surfaces, spaced wall. portions having friction surfaces, certain of said pairs intersecting in a plane intermediate said last named friction surfaces, and certain other of said pairs intersecting in a plane substantially normal to said first named plane.

2. A draft gear comprising in combination, wedge blocks in spaced relation, each of said blocks being provided with upper and lower wall portions having friction surfaces and a plurality of diagonally disposed wedge shaped friction surfaces therebetween, a plurality of pairs of friction blocks interposed between said wedge blocks,

both blocksof each pair of friction blocks engaging one of the diagonal wedge shaped friction surfaces of each wedge block, and means for urging said pairs of friction blocks toward each other.

3; A draft gear comprising in combination,- wedge blocks in spaced relation, each of said blocks being provided with upper and lower wall portions having friction surfaces and apluralityof diagonally disposed wedge shaped friction surfaces therebetween, a plurality of pairs of friction bl eke-interposed between said wedge blocks, both blocks of. each-pair of friction blocks engaging one of thediagonal wedge shaped friction surfacesof each wedge block, each of said friction .91] blocks further cooperating with a friction surface of a wallportion of. each of said wedge, blocks, andmeans for urging said pairs of friction blocks toward each other.

i. A draft gear comprising in combination w wedge blocks in spaced relation, each of .said blocks oeing provided with upper and lower wall portions having. substantially horizontally disposed friction surfaces and a plurality of diagonally disposed wedge shaped friction surfacesmm therebetween, a plurality of pairs of friction blocks interposed between said wedge blocks, both blocks of each pair of friction blocks engaging one. of diagonal wedge shaped frictionsurfaces of each wedge 'oloclr, each of said friction blocks fin'ther cooperating with a horizontally disposed friction surface of a wall portion of each of said wedge blocks, and means for urging said pairs of friction clocks toward each other.

5. A draft gear comprising in combination, 1193 wedge blocks in spaced relation, and means for resisting movement of said wedge blocks, saidmeans including oppositely disposed pairs of friction b. clrs between said wedge blocks, each of said friction blocks having friction surfaces en- 1Y5?- coinplementary friction surfaces on said wedge blocks, said wedge blocks upon movement causing relative movement of the pairs of friction blocks and relative movement of the blocks of each pair, and means for urging said pairs of 1211- friction blocks toward each other.

6. A draft comprising in combination, wedge blocks in spaced relation, and means for resisting movement of said wedge blocks, said means including oppositely disposed pairs of friction blocks between said wedge blocks, each of said-friction blocks having friction surfaces engaging complementary friction surfaces on said wedge blocks, said blocks having said cooperating friction surfaces so disposed that movement 0113 wedge blocks causes relative movement of the pairs of friction blocks and relative move ment of the blocks of pair, and means for urging said pairs of friction blocks toward each other.

7. A draft gear comprising in. combination, wedge blocks in spaced relation, and means for resisting movement of said wedge blocks, said means including oppositely disposed pairs of friction blocks between said wedge blocks, each of said friction blocks having friction surfaces en'- gaging complementary friction surfaces on said wedge blocks, said wedge blocks'having friction surfaces so disposed that movement thereof causes relative movement of the pairs of friction blocks and relative movement of the blocks of each pair, and means for urging said pairs of friction blocks toward each other.

8. A draft gear comprising in combination, wedge blocks in spaced relation, each of said 50" blocks being provided with upper and lower wall portions having friction surfaces and a plurality of diagonally disposed wedge shaped friction surfaces therebetween, and means for resisting movement of said wedge blocks, said means including oppositely disposed pairs of friction blocks, both blocks of each pair of friction blocks engaging one of the diagonal wedge shaped friction surfaces of each wedge block, each of said friction blocks further cooperating with a friction surface of a wall portion of each of said wedge blocks, said friction surfaces of said wall portions being so disposed that movement of said wedge blocks causes relative movement of the pairs of friction blocks and relative movement of the blocks of each pair, and means for urging said pairs of friction blocks toward each other.

9. A draft gear comprising in combination, wedge blocks in spaced relation, each of said blocks being provided with upper and lower wall portions having friction surfaces and a plurality of diagonally disposed wedge shaped friction surfaces therebctween, and means for resisting movement of said wedge blocks, said means including oppositely disposed pairs of friction blocks, both blocks of each pair of friction blocks engaging one of the diagonal wedge shaped friction surfaces of each wedge block, each of said friction blocks further cooperating with a friction surface of a wall portion of each of said wedge blocks, said friction surfaces of said wall portions being so disposed that movement of said wedge blocks toward one another causes relative movement of the pairs of friction blocks away from one another, and relative movement of the blocks of each pair toward one another, and means for urging said pairs of friction blocks toward each other.

10. A draft gear comprising in combination,

wedge blocks in spaced relation, each of said blocks being provided with a plurality of diagonally disposed wedge shaped grooves having friction surfaces, and means for resisting movement of said wedge blocks, said means including oppositely disposed pairs of friction blocks, both blocks of each pair of friction blocks being disposed within a groove of each of said wedge blocks and engaging the friction surfaces thereof, the distance between the upper and lower friction surfaces of adjacent grooves decreasingly varying from the longitudinal axis of said wedge blocks outwardly so that movement of said wedge blocks toward one another causes relative movement of the pairs of friction blocks away from one another and relative movement of the blocks of each pair toward one another, and means for urging said pairs of friction blocks toward each other.

11. A draft gear comprising in combination, wedge blocks in spaced relation, each of said blocks being provided with a plurality of diagonally disposed wedge shaped grooves having friction surfaces, and means for resisting movement of said wedge blocks, said means including oppositely disposed pairs of friction blocks, both blocks of each pair of friction blocks being disposed within a groove of each of said wedge blocks and engaging the friction surfaces thereof, the distance between the upper and lower friction surfaces of adjacent grooves increasingly varying from the longitudinal axis of said wedge blocks outwardly so that movement of said wedge blocks toward one another causes relative movement of the pairs of friction blocks away from one another and relative movement of the blocks of each pair away from one another, and means for urging said pairs of friction blocks toward each other.

12. A friction member comprising a body portion having a plurality of angularly disposed friction surfaces, and substantially parallel wall portions having spaced friction surfaces, said surfaces intersecting in a plurality of lines, said angularly disposed friction surfaces having a common point of intersection intermediate said wall portions and intersecting in a line between said spaced friction surfaces and in spaced relation to the other lines of intersection of said friction surfaces.

13. A friction member comprising a body portion having friction surfaces merging in lines angularly disposed in relation to one another and having a common point of intersection, and substantially parallel wall portions having friction surfaces in spaced relation, said point and lines of intersection of said surfaces being disposed between said last-named friction surfaces.

14. A friction member comprising a plurality of pairs of diagonally disposed friction surfaces, friction surfaces above and below the pairs of friction surfaces, each of said first-named friction surfaces being diagonally disposed in respect to both a longitudinal and transverse plane, said last-named friction surfaces having portions sloping in a plurality of directions.

15. A friction member comprising a plurality of pairs of diagonally disposed friction surfaces, 1 friction surfaces above and below the pairs of friction surfaces, each of said first-named friction surfaces being diagonally disposed in respect to both a longitudinal and transverse plane, said last-named friction surfaces having portions diagonally disposed in respect to a horizontal plane.

16. A friction member comprising a plurality of pairs of diagonally disposed friction surfaces, friction surfaces above and below the pairs of friction surfaces, the planes of the friction surfaces of each pair intersecting in a line diagonally disposed to a longitudinal line and the planes of adjacent surfaces of different pairs intersecting in other lines diagonally disposed to said longitudinal line, said last-named friction surfaces having portions sloping in a plurality of directions.

17. A friction member comprising a plurality of pairs of diagonally disposed friction surfaces, friction surfaces above and below the pairs of friction surfaces, each of said last-named friction surfaces forming a wedge-shaped groove with one of said first-named friction surfaces, the adjacent grooves on each side of the longitudinal center of said member diverging outwardly.

EDMUND P. KINNE. 

